SUPREME COURT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1937, 20 November 1906, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

AUCKLAND BEBBIONS,

PRESS ASSOCIATION Auckland, last night. Mr Jaetioe Edwards, in opening the criminal sessions to-day, congratulated, the grand jury on the marked diminution , of orime in the district. He had been able l to comment on a similarly satisfactory state cf things at the opening of last! criminal BEStioos, and it was very pleasiDg f that this gratifying state of affaire was j being continued. Oh previous occasions he had often had to deal with no iess than 1 45 prisoners. There was now only 18 on r the list. This was very satisfactory, as i an indication not only of an improved moral tone in the community, but also j inferentially of Ihe prosperity of this great part of the colony. jj John R, Wil iameon, alias Wilson Wil- f liameon, who had pleaded guilty in tha ; lower court to three charges of forgery, was sentenced to one year on eaoh charge, the sentences to be concurrent.

John Smith Watson, alias Woodhouse, was sentenced to two years’ hard labor for theft from a dwelling, and Joseph Wilson to 18 months for robbery with violence.^-. Harry Skeen, pattly paralysed, was sen* teooed to ten years for attempted rape, cumulative on ten years given by Mr Justice Cooper at New Plymouth six months ago.

MANSLAUGHTER CASE,

PRESS ASSOCIATION

Dunedin, last night. ' At the Supreme Court to-day the grand jury returned true bills in all oases, but reduced the charge against J. A, Hayno from murder to manslaughter. Helen Findlay Braid, who had pleaded guilty to making a falsa representation with respect So the birth of her child, was admitted to probation. Albert Pyle was found guilty of break* ing and entering, and sentenced to 18 months.

The hearing of the confidence trick case, in which Walter Henry Mitchell. Wm. MoPberson, and Patrick Opperkukoh are charged with defrauding a simple country* m-n of £l7O, was not concluded.

Wellington, last night,

The fiaal Bitting of the Supreme Court in tbe criminal jurisdiction for the year commenced this morning, before the Chief Justice. Twenty-five persons were scheduled for trial, and four prisoners had been committ3d for sentence. John Connell, who pleaded jguilty to forgery, and was found guilty of an indecent assault ; John Lisber convicted of assault and robbery, and Patrick O'Brien, guilty of an unnatural offenoe, were re» manded until Wednesday for sentence. Juan Gomez, who had committed a breach of the Post Office Act by untruthfully atatiog ia a letter that he had en» closed £4, was liberated on months' probation. The jury; failed to agreed in the case of Maria Neavv, charged with assault at Palmerston North, j *